Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-06-02

troops was made was not yet 81 years OF
age. ran away from home and joined the
regiment which Ellsworth organized in New
York. We found Washington filed with
soldiers when we arrived, and we were quar-
tered at first in the Capitol We slept upon
benches, and Ellsworth had a number of
baking ovens made in the vaults for the cook
ing of the food for the soldiers. 1t was found
impossible, however, to enforce discipline IN
Washington. and Ellsworth moved us out
near the insane asylum. From thence we
marched to Giessboro Point and we were
here stationed at the time we were ordered to
Alexandria"
"What kind of looking man was Ellis
worthp
"He was fine looking fellow. though under
medium height. He was about five feet five
inches, and his weight was about $50 pounds.
His eyes were dark and penetrating hazel.
His hair was trif1e long and black. He was
very erect in his bearing, quick in his move
ments and he had highly nervous organi-
zation. He was rather austere in manner
and was not what you might call a hail fellow
well met man. His voice was clear and
wonderfully musical, and he never appeared
anything else than dignified. He was engaged
to lie married at the time of his death, and
understand that his lady love has since mar
red. l have read his diary, and his short life
was model Of virtue and temperance. He
was a man of extraordinary abilities and of
extraordinary virtues, and I doubt whether
the world will ever appreciate the greatness
| which he possessed"
andria?"
"No he was not He was chosen by Presi-
dent Lincoln on account of his prudence. The
| anf tpo OIL o,,Ih o
wanted the Confederate soldiers driven out of
Alexandria without bloodshed il possible.
Ellsworth thoroughly understood this. He
| promised Lincoln he would he responsible for
his command, and before they left he made a
speech to his men. In this he told us of the
importance of discipline, and said he had
| pledged his honor that We would act like men.
| He had claimed it as our right to lead the
| army into the enemy's country, as we were
| the first to answer the call and the first volun-
teers sworn in for the war; This right had
been granted, and he concluded his address
by urging upon us the Importance of the
utmost circumspection, for the army which
comes AFTER said he, will be judged by you
We are to kill nobody except by kindness
Not shot is to be fired except by orders.'
ale then left the regiment and wrote let
| ter to his mother and father, copy of which
can give you. This letter reads
WASHINGTON, D. c., May %, 1861.
| my DEAR PARENTS: The regiment is Or
| dered to cross the river tonight We have no
means of knowing what reception we will
| meet with, although am of the opinion that
our entrance to the city of Alexandria will
be hotly contested, as l am just informed
that large body of troops arrived there to-
day. Should this happen, my dear parents
1t may be my lot to be injured in some man
ner. Whatever may happen, cherish the
consolation that was engaged in the per-
Torrance Of a sacred duty, and to might,
thinking Of the probabilities of tomorrow
and the occurrences of the past, am perfect
| ly content to accept whatever my fortune
may be, confident that He who noted the
fall of a sparrow will have some purpose
| even i'll the fate of one like me-
Any darling and ever loved parents. good
by! God bless, protect and care for you'll
"'EIMER.'n
P7 this time the ferry boat had reached
Alexandria, and, with Capt. Browneu, l
went over the route from where the boat
landed to the Marshall house. "Here," said
the captain, standing i'll front of a dingy
warehouse, "was where we landed. Just be-
fore we reached Alexandria a small boat
shot out from the shadow of the gun boat
Pdwnee, and we came up to the wharf at the
| same time. This boat contained an officer
| bearing white flag. He talked a moment
| with Col. Ellsworth, and was informed that
the town had either surrendered or had been
placed under a flag of truce, and that the
| Confedelates had been given time to leave
the city. Some troops had been sent from
Washington to Alexandria by land, and we
| were at this time the only troops here. While
the regiment were disseminating, a squad Of
us, in company with Col. Ellsworth, started
up the street. We passed the Braddock house
| on the way, and our destination was the tele.
graph Office. The city was as dead and as
silent as the grave. There was not face to
be seen, and not window or door open,
After going two squares we turned to the
left down Royal street to King, and here W.
| came in full view OF the Marshal house, on
which Confederate flag, about nine by
twelve feet in size, was Tutoring in the
breeze. Ellsworth noticed the flag as we
turned the corner. He told a sergeant to 90
back and tell Capt Coyle to hurry his com.
pany to this spot. The Marshall house was
en- old fashioned tavern with two old fash.
toned dormer windows r9king their h...us
out through the roof. There was a wide
double entrance in its front, and wide doors Of
| glass led into the office. We had passed the
! house, and | supposed Col Ellsworth was
| going to leave Capt. Coyle to take care of the
flag. He changed his mind, however, and
suddenly turned aud crossed the street to tho
! Marshall house. / think he remembered his
| promise to the president to act with as much
moderation as possible, and he feared that the
| sight of that flag OH whole company would
so inhane the men that the captain would not
be able to control them. Atany rate he went
! into the house and we followed him. There
was only one person visible in the office, and
| he stood behind the counter. Ellsworth
| asked him for the proprietor The man re-
| piled III surly manner that he was not
| about He then went into the hall and
started up the stairway to the attic Nobody
tried to stop Us, and there was nobody to be
seen. When we reached the attic Ellsworth
mounted step ladder leading to the roof. He
| pulled down the flag and we started down the
| ladder. The staircase was an old fashioned
! zigzag stairway, broken with landings 10
! tween each story"
***
At this point Capt. Brownell and myself
entered the house, and Capt Brownell maxi
! ing himself acquainted with the inmates led
Inc to the place where the tragedy actually
occurred. 1t was on the third floor at the
stairway, and though the arrangement has